The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Rebuilding a 292 questions

I am new to fourum and wanted to say hi first.

Next, I have a 292 that I want rebuilt. What should I look for in a engine shop when it comes to my 292. How familiar are engine shops these days with straight sixes? It is going back into my 57 truck with a 700r4 hopefully. I need to get this thing running again. Thank all.

Here is what the 72 year old machinist told me.
When you go to a machine shop,look for the man with the gray hair.That is the man you talk too.

I would google the machine shop name.Look for bad and good reviews from customers.

Ask questions,use a machine shop that will give you a warranty on there work.

WELCOME purefun660. We're glad to have you join us. You will get tons on advice, mostly good from fellow Stovebolters. Many are very experienced hands at getting the best performance from stock and non stock inlines. You may also want to check out www.Inliners.org for some help. Hopefully we'll see you here often too.

As for the machine shop I wouldn't be as concerned about any of the last generation of Chevy straight sixes as many would lead you to believe. They have much more in common with more modern engines than the older tapered cranks and poured bearings of earlier models. Your concerns are more from a holdover from those days than a 230,250 or 292 warrants. Just take the same precautions you would for any machine work, i.e., ask questions, get firm prices and references. And if a place is dirty and looks like trash then thats what the work will be too. Check out the NAPA stores in you area.

tapered cranks?

Your 292 was still being used up till the early 90's so its not as old as you think! Any decent shop can rebuild one. Stick with stock replacement parts and you will be good to go. Don't get carried away with a big camshaft with high lift and duration. The engine won't like it once the trans drops into overdrive.

Study up on rpm and gear ratios. You want your engine in the optimum torque range when cruising down the highway so build the engine with this in mind. You sure don't want a cam that makes power way above your driving rpm.
UPS delivery used a ton of these 292's in the delivery vans, so they must hold up good, UPS won't touch if if its junk!

Joe

Four different main bearing diameters, but you already know that. Stirring the pot again? It's getting old.
Jerry

it's a hobby of his.

Thanks for the replies. The RPM issue is well within my sights since that is part of the problem with it now. I turn way to high of RPMs on the freeway and have bent many pushrods. The motor was not right when I first got it and I believe the vavle springs are not the right springs for the cam that it currently has. Thanks again.

I would find a shop that can built it and also dyno it. It needs to be broken in and tuned by the builder.

I just repaired a Pontiac that had the wrong springs for the cam lift. It broke two rocker studs and four valve springs after a high rpm run. They were right at the limit of lift so each cycle they were in coil bind.

It's sure something to look into, the pushrod will go first if they are weaker then the springs, or studs in this case.

Joe